Vending apparatus



March 18, 1958 E. J. LUX 2,827,200

VENDING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 12, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 I NVEN TOR.fZ/af/v-Jlax Mal-ch18, 1958 E. JJLUX 2,327,200

VENDING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 12, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Z gr4.

w 5 INVENTOR.

March I8, 1958 E. J. LUX 2,827,200

VENDING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 12, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 "M; F123 12 /0;II

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INVENTOR. imam-flux United States VENDING APPARATUS Eugene J. Lux,Atlanta, Ga.

Application October 12, 1956, Serial No. 615,6 4?

Claims. (Cl. 221-90) This invention relates to vending machines, andmore particularly to those of the type in which the vended articles aresupported upon shelves located one above the other and which shelves aresuccessively lowered, starting from the lowermost shelf to theuppermost, to cause dispensing of the supported articles.

Various articles sold by vending machines, such as soft packaged goodslike bags of candy, peanuts, etc. cannot be readily piled one upon theother in the machine and hence it has been found more desirable to placeeach package upon a pivotally-mounted shelf and drop or lower each shelffor each purchase. It is an object of the present invention to provide ashelf-mounting construction, and means by which the shelves can besuccessively lowered, beginning with the lowermost shelf, to therebydispense the articles borne by the shelves.

It is an object of the invention to provide a simplified mechanism forthe above purpose; which mechanism shall be capable of ready repair andwhich will stand up under hard use.

It is another object of the invention to provide a mechanism of theabove-mentioned character and by which the shelves in superimposedrelation may be arranged in one or more tiers, and to provide means bywhich said shelves can be successively lowered by reciprocation of alever or other member that can be readily coin-controlled.

With these, and other objects to be hereinafter set forth in view, Ihave devised the arrangement of elements to be described and moreparticularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein a preferred embodiment of theinvention is disclosed,

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of an apparatus constructed inaccordance with the invention, the view being taken substantially on theline 1-1 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 2 is a somewhat similar vertical sectional view, takensubstantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of thearrows;

Fig. 3 is a front elevational view of the apparatus;

Fig. 4 is a front elevational view of a part of the apparatus, withparts in section, showing how the lowermost shelf is engaged preparatoryto being lifted into a position to enable it to swingably descend tolowered position;

Fig. 5 is a similar View, showing the lower shelf in raised position andstarting its downward swing;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view, taken substantially on the line 66 of Fig.3, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 7 is a front view of the structure shown in Fig. 6, showing themanner in which a shelf is lifted preparatory to swinging down tolowered position;

Fig. 8 is a horizontal sectional view through a modified multi-tierconstruction;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view, taken substantially on the line 99 of Fig.8, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view, taken substantially on the 2,8212% PatentedMar. 18, 1 958 line 10-10 of Fig. 8, looking in the direction of thearrows;

Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates generally a portion of thehousing in which the improved apparatus is contained. The same ispreferably made of sheet metal and in the form shown is provided with arear wall 2, and the side walls 3 and 4 arranged substantially parallelto one another. The housing is normally closed at the top and bottom aswell as at the front, by suitable closure panels which are not shown forsimplicity of illustration and any or all of which may be removable foraccess to the mechanism contained within the housing and for loading theshelves with the merchandise to be dispensed.

Secured by rivets 6 or other suitable fastening elements to the wall 2of the housing is a channel-shaped casing 5, having opposite parallelside walls 7 and 8. Pivotally mounted in superimposed relation betweensaid walls 7 and 8 is a plurality or tier of shelves 10, with thelowermost shelf in the tier indicated at 10a. Each of these shelves isprovided adjacent to its rear edge, with a pair of downwardly directedlugs 9 and 11 connected by a headed pivot rod 12, which rod is pivotallymounted in slots 22 formed in the side walls 7 and 8 of thechannelshaped casing 5. Each of the lugs 11 is formed adjacent to itslower edge with a shoulder 14, forwardly of which is provided a nose 15,and when each of the shelves 10, 10a is in its raised or horizontal,merchandisesupporting position, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the pivotrods 12 are located at the lower limits of the slots 22 so that theshoulder 14 rests on top of an ear 45 projecting laterally from the wall8 of the casing 5. it will be observed that there is one of these ears45 located directly below each shelf 10, 10a and when each shelf is inits raised or horizontal position it is maintained horizontally by theshoulder 14 resting on the top edge of the ear 45 and by the nose 15engaging against the front surface of said ear. This will be apparentfrom Fig. 4.

The shelves 10, 10a are normally maintained in their raised orhorizontal positions by means of coil springs 16, each of said springsbeing fastened at one end to a lug 37 provided on or struckfrom the sidewall 8, and secured at its other end to the pivot rod 12. When in itsraised or horizontal position, each of the shelves will support anarticle of merchandise 18, such as goods contained in a bag or package.As each shelf is swung downwardly to its lowered position, the article18 resting upon it will drop downwardly to fall upon an inclined plateor chute 20 communicating with an outlet in the housing 1 and will slideforwardly to a support where it will be picked up by the purchaser.

Mounted for vertical reciprocating movement within the casing 5, is alifter bar21 which may be angle-shaped in cross section, and which isprovided with slots 13 through which headed pins or rivets 23,projecting from wall 2, extend, the vertical movements of the lifter bar21 being limited by these slots. A coil spring 25, has one end attachedto a pin as indicated at 26, said pin extending from the lifter bar nearthe upper end of the same, and the second end of the spring is attachedat 27 to a pin extending from the wall 2 of the housing 1. This spring25 is eflfective to normally hold the lifter bar in its raisedposition,at which time the various parts of the apparatus appear asshown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

Pivotally mounted on the lifter bar 21 by the pivot pins 28, are fingers29 which constitute pivoted gravity latches or pawls by means of whichthe shelves 10 are successively lifted, starting from the bottom shelfthat, and are caused to be successively swung down to lowered position.These fingers or latches 29 are pivoted alternately on the oppositefaces of the forwardly-projecting web of the lifter bar.

At its lower end, the lifter bar 21 is bent forwardly as indicated a andth n beat do nwa dly s indica ed at 31, which downwardly-bent part 31 ispivotally attached at 34 to an operating bar or lever 32 extending throua slot 3. in he nslinssl q esn te .1- Ba 's; is connected to or forms apart of suitable coin-controlled me a m nfknown'char cter and wh h ieffec iv when a oin ha been dep ed; to e ther e use or pen init lever 32to be dr wn down ardly t draw down the lifter bar 21 for a' relativelyshort distant? and to the extent p'er'mittedby the slots'13, and thenraised under the impulse of the spring'2 5.

Prom' theforegoing, the operation of the apparatus will be readilyunderstood. In Figs; 1, .2 and 3 the apparatus is shown in itsmerchandiserfilled condition, each of the shelves being in its raised orhorizontal position, and each supporting a bag 1801' other article ofmerchandise. When a coinis deposited, this will cause or permit thelever 32' to be. drawn downwardly, and such movementof the lever 32 willdraw down the lifter bar Zito an extent'permitted by the upperlimits ofthe slots 7 13. When this loweringmovement of the lifter bar 21 occurs,and the same is in its lowered position as shown in Fig. 4, thelowermost finger or gravity latch 29awill swing forwardly or to theright as'viewed in Fig. 4, to an extent as to permit its upper end38totalte under the rear edge of the lowermost shelf 10a. It will be notedthat when this occurs,-none of the otherfingers or latches 29 will swingforwardly because they are prevented from doing so by their contactwithfthe rear edges of the several shelves 10, including the rear edgeof the shelf 104 that prevents the finger or latch 29 located secondfrom the bottom finger from swinging forwardly. When the lever 32 movesupwardly, under the pull of spring and possibly under other forceapplied to the lever, the lifter bar 21 will rise and upon doing so'itwill raise the back end of the lowermost shelf ltlauntil the lug 11thereon is located above or has cleared the. lowermost ear 45, as shownin Fig. 5. When the shelf 10:: reaches a point wherein its pivot rod 12reaches the upper end of the slot 13, further pressure of the'upper endof the finger or latch'29a on the rear portion of the shelf, will swingthe shelf downwardly to lowered or dropped position, causing the article18 held by it to slide off the shelf and fall down on the chute plate 20to move to the outlet for securement by the purchaser.

When the lowermost shelf has been swung down to its lowered position itwill remain in that position until it is subsequently raised preparatoryto the machinev being re-. filled. It will be apparent that the rearedge of the same will no longer be'eifective to prevent forward swing ofthe finger 29 that is located next above lowermost finger 2%. i As aresult, upon the next lowering movementof the lifter bar 21 followingthe deposit of a coin, the second finger from the bottom one will takeunder the rear edge portion of the second shelf from that indicated at1931 and upon raising movement of the lifter bar, will raise said secondshelf to cause its lug 11 to clear the adiacent ear .5., n h n c e sw ofs id second shelf to lowered position with resultant delivery of itsarticle orpackagef18 to, the slide plate 20.

l, 2 and 3 l have shown a single row or tier of the shelves, but it willbe apparent that a number of rows or tiers might be contained within asingle outer housing. For example, in Figs. 8 to 10 inclusive, fourtiers are shown, said'tiers being indicated respectively at 50, 51, 52and 53. The elements embodied in each of these tiers are similar tothose described in conjunction with Figs. 1

take under the parts of the U-shaped extensions 54 as shown in Fig. 10,acting to lift such extensions to cause the lugs 11 to clear the cars 45and then causing the shelves to be swung downwardly.

The arrangement disclosed permits the shelves to be effectively lowered,starting with the bottom shelfland working upwardly until all of theshelves are lowered, and

results in a mechanism easily operated by coin-controlled means. a 7

Having described an embodiment of the invention, it is obvious that thesame is not to be restricted thereto, but is broad enough to cover allstructures coming within the scopeof theannexed claims. w i

What I claim is:

1. In a vending apparatus, a pivoted merchandise-supporting shelf, meansfor supporting the shelf inan extended position, a lifter bar mountedfor limited vertical reciprocating movement and means for moving thelifter. bar within the limits of such movement, a pivoted,gravity-controlled finger carried by said bar at the rear of the shelfand gravity;controlled in a manner tocause it to normally swing in adirection towardthe shelf and. rest against the rear portion of saidshelf while the lifter bar is in its elevated position, said fingerbeing operative being moved by said finger to lowered position.

. 2,. In a vending apparatus ,a vertical tier of shelves in i h h h l rea ng d one a o e heotllcneach shelf having a pivot pin adjacent to itsrear end, a casing having slots i which a d piv t p nsja e ertica ly moable, each shelf having a lug formed with a shoulder;

e rs pr j c ing r h s n nd upon whi h the lug rest h n he shelves e'i hzonta m rchandiseppo Po ns. a i ly-rec procated litter. bar

carrying a plurality of pivoted fingers, with one of said fingersarranged adjacent to the rear of, each, shelfand no m y el g i f rwa dpi otal movementby its contact with the rear of its adjacent shelf,means by which the lowermost finger will take under the lowermost shelfon lowering movement of the lifter bar and upon raising movement of thelifter bar willbe caused to raise said shelf at the rear thereof andelevate its lug above. the.

adjacent ear and then cause downward swing of said shelf, thepositioning of the fingers above said lowermost.

' finger being such as to cause said fingers to be restrained theshelves have been swung down to lowered'position and thegoocls have beensold. The housing is then opened; the shelves are manually. raised totheir hori-v zontal positions and bags or packages 18 areplacedthere- 7on in readiness, for-a repeat of the vending operations hereindescribed' As will be observed in Fig. 'Z, the lifting movement of theseveral shelves is required at one against forward pivotal movement bythe rear portions" of all of the shelves until the lowermost shelf islowered whereupon the finger above said lowermost shelf will be renderedeffective to take under the shelf abovethe able pivot for each of theshelves, each pivot being mounted for lost motion means adapted tomaintain the shelves. i a ended hori ontal, merc andise-suppor n astion, a lifter bar carrying a plurality of eccentricallyaseaaoe pivotedshelf-pivoting elements, said elements being disposed at the rear of theshelves and arranged one above the other and normally held againstforward pivotal movement by their contact with the rear ends of therespective shelves, each of said shelf-pivoting elements having an endadapted for engagement under its adjacent shelf, means by which thelowermost element engages under the lowermost shelf on lowering movementof the lifter bar and upon raising movement of the lifter bar is causedto bodily raise the engaged shelf at the rear thereof together with itspivot and then cause downward swing of said shelf, the location of theshelf-pivoting elements above said lowermost shelf-pivoting elementbeing such as to cause said elements to be restrained from extendingunder their adjacent shelves by engagement of said elements against thebacks of said shelves until the lowermost shelf is lowered, whereuponthe finger above the lowered shelf will be rendered effective to engageunder the shelf next above the lowered one on the next raising movementof the lifter bar.

4. In a vending apparatus, a plurality of merchandisesupporting shelvesarranged in superimposed relation, each of said shelves being pivoted ona movable pivot and being capable of movement on said pivot to a loweredposition, each of said pivots being mounted for lost motion meansadapted to maintain the shelves in an extended horizontalmerchandise-supporting position, a reciprocable lifter bar locatedbehind the pivots of the shelves, a plurality of eccentrically-pivotedfingers mounted one above the other on the lifter bar and bodily carriedthereby, the fingers being shaped so as to be caused by gravity tonormally contact with rear portions of the shelves behind the shelfpivots, means by which a lowering movement of the lifter bar permits thelowermost finger to pivotally move to cause it to engage directly undera portion of the lowermost shelf at the rear of the pivot of said shelf,and a raising movement of the lifter bar causes said shelf-engagingfinger to lift the shelf pivot because of its lost motion mounting andthen swing the engaged shelf on its pivot to lowered position therebyshifting the shelf from its extended position and causing discharge ofthe article of merchandise supported by it, said lowermost shelf beingso positioned as to constantly maintain the finger above that engaged incausing lowering movement of the shelf, in a retracted position at theback of the shelves until the lowermost shelf is moved to its loweredposition.

5. In a vending machine, a shelf support, means for mounting a shelf onthe support to enable the shelf to be both pivotally and bodily movablerelatively to the support, means on the shelf for engaging the supportin a manner to locate the shelf in an extended mechandisesupportingposition, a reciprocable lifter bar located adjacent to the shelf, alatch pivoted on the lifter bar, the latch having an end engageableunder the shelf to one side of the pivot thereof when the lifter bar isin a lowered position and to bodily lift the rear end of the shelf fromits support to release the shelf from its ex- References Cited in thefile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Klineline Nov. 4, 1890Settecasi Sept. 27, 1949

